Laundry-marking machine.



J. 0. GEBHART.

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE- urmonron rum) NOV. 21, me.

' Patented Sept. 14. 1909.

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Wifzeas 66 I J. U. GBBHART. v

LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) nov. 21, 1908.

' I Patented Sept; 14. 1909.

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PATENT J OHN C. GEBHART, OF MEMIPHZES, TENNESSEE.

LAUNDRY-MARKING I/IAOHINEQ Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedSlept, id, lid-fig.

Application filed November 21, 1908. Serial No 463,844. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GEBHAR'I, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee,have invented new and useful Improvements in Laundry-Marking Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in laundry markingmachines and has reference more particularly to a machine of that typewhich includes a movable supporting means having type wheels associatedtherewith, which type wheels are apablc of individualadjustment. l Thesupporting means is movable with respect to a suitable platen or nail inorder to bring the type Wheels into an-operative position.

In the present invention the type wheels are mounted in a casing andthe'latter is carried by movable supportingmeans.

The invention aims primarily to provide supporting means of novelconstruction and employed in combination with novel actuating elementsfor operating the supporting means actively and for resetting thesupporting means after each active operation thereof. 4

The invention includes as a further novel feature, the specific mannerof mounting the type wheel casing with relation to the supporting meanswhereby said casing has an initial movement independent of saidsupporting means to bring the determinate line the anvil, and wherebyafter of type over a fursuch initial movement of the casing,

ther movement thereof with the supporting means is had in order toeffect the marking operation.

The invention possesses further novelty in the provision of automaticmeans for locking the type wheels against movement after they have beenset and in the operative position of the casing. This locking, means issup-v plemental to a means for locking each individual type wheelagainst movement after an adjustment thereof.

The invention comprehends the above novel structural features toward theends of simplicity in construction, reliability and accuracy i'-operation and inexpensiveness in the reduction of the number of partsordinarily employed in marking machines of the general type stated. v

The invention will be best understoodin view of the followingdescription which is to be read in connection with the i iccoznpanyingdrawings wherein is shown a preferred and advantageous form ofconstruction in accordance with the present invention, while the novelfeatures of theimprovement are defined in language of properdeterminative character in the claims appended at the end of thisspecification.

In the said drawings :-Figur e l is a perspective view of a markingmachine constructed'in accordance with the present in vention andshowing the complete assemblage of parts, the elements being in theirnormal positions. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section illustratingthe structural details of the movable type casing, the movablesupporting means and the actuating parts, the elements being in theposition shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation with parts brokenaway and parts in section, the machine being shown as in operation. Fig.i is a transverse sectional view showing the arrangement of the elementsassembled upon the main supporting shaft. Fig. 5 is an elevation indetached relation of one of the type wheels and its adjusting means.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the arms of the supportingmeans, the other arm be ing similar in construction. Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view of a bell crank lever forming an element of theoperating train which will be described in detail, and Fig. 8 is asimilar view of an abutment member which is mounted 'on the mainsupporting shaft and which is associated with the resetting meanspreviously mentioned.

Similar characters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

For convenience the operating parts are carried on .a base 1. which ismounted on a supporting pedestal 2, the latter being preferably hollowand having at its base a. projecting flange 3 for attachment to thefloor. The base 1 is preferably detachably assembled upon the, pedestal2 as by bolt and nut connections 8 shown in Fig. 2: At the frontend ofsaid base an anvil 41 is provided, in which is set a raised section 5,preferably of rubber, which serves the'purposes of a platen and shallhereafter be referred. to by that name. The base 1 is formed at its rearend with a pair of spaced upwardly projecting bearing members 6 in whichjonrnaled a. transverse shaft 7. which forms the main supporting shaft6. A shaft extends transversely of the pivlotall lever 20 as s abutmentmember 26 illustrated more par-' ticularly in Fig. 8. The member 26depends The type wheel casing is indicated by the numeral 8 and ispreferably supported pivotally with relation to arms 9 oneof which isillustrated more particularly in Fig.

casing 8 and in addition to serving as the pivot for operating leverquadrants to be later described, serves as the connection between thecasing 8 and the arms 9. Accord ingly the ends of the shafts 10 areextended and journaled in bearings 11 formed in the upper ends of thearms 9. The latter are of angular formation and include horizontalportions 12 and vertical pertions 13 which extend upwardly from the"portions 12 at a substantial right angle thereto. The arms 9 have attheir rear ends ofi-set collars 14: which surround the shaft 7, and areheld fast thereon by an .suitable means. The type w eel shaft isindicated by the numeral 15 and is disposed transversely of the casing8, beyond which its ends are ex: tended for a purpose to be'hereinafterset forth.

The casing 8 and the arms 9 are moved by atrain of elements includiessentia ly a bell crank lever 16 which is loosely mounted upon theshaft 7, and an angular link 17 connecting the upper end of the lever 16with the casing 8 at the lower rear portion, as at 18. The link 17 isconnected to the longer outwardly projectin arm of the lever 16, and anelongated ll 19 is connected to the shorter inwardly projecting arm ofsaid lever, the link 19 extending through the edestal 2 and being ivotedto anoperatin lever 20 mounted at t e base of the ed estafi and providedwith a treadle'l 21. e. lever 20 projects through a slot 22formed insaid pedestal and is preferably upheld so that the lever 16 andthecasing 8 are sustained in a normal position by means of a s ring 23of retractile spiral form, one end 0 the s ring 23 being connected tothe hown and the other end of said spring being connected within thepedestal 2. The spring 23 affords a means for resetting thelever 16 andthe casing 8 with relation to the arms 9 and means are further providedfor resetting said arms 9, this last mentioned means comprisingpreferably a member 24 which is secured to the base 1 at the rear endthereof and which is formed with spaced lugs 25 cotiperating with anfrom the shaft 7 and is formed with collars 27 which surround said shaftandare 'held fast thereon.

' The member 26 is constructed with openings 28 through which are passedpins 29, the latter extending also through openin s in the lugs 25 andhaving at theirouter en s pins 29 have a certain degree of play, theopenings 28 and the openin s in the lugs 25 being of greater diameter tan said pins to allow of the necessary play. The pins 29 have theirinner ends, threaded to receive nuts 31 which confine expansive coilsprings 32, the latter surrounding the pins 29 and bearing against thenuts arid.against the lu s 2 he arms 9 are formed with projectingbearings 33 ,which support the shaft of aninking roller 34, thelatter'contacting with the peripheries of the type wheels within'the,casing 8; hence it will be seen that when the casing 8 is moved on itspivot 10, the roller w1ll automatically supply ink to the surfaces oftlyie type wheels, the latter traversing said r ler aswill be readilyunderstood.

I The type wheels are indicated by the numeral 35 and are formed withthe necessary and desirethcharacters, alphabeticaland numerical, thesaid type wheels being mounted for rotation on the shaft 15 preuiouslyreferred to, as best re resented in Fig. 2. A pinion 36 is made ast tothe hub of each ,type wheel, bein :cast'integral therewith or secured inany ot er suitable or desiredmanner. The type wheels are each setwhereby thedesired character is positioned with respect to the platen 5,the setting means comprising quadrants 37 which are in mesh with acorrespondinfi pinion 36 and which. are mounted pivota y on the shaft 10previously referred to. The quadrants 37 are formed with .lever arms 38which project through slots 39 provided in a cover plate 40 for the/casing 8, the projecting portions of the arms 38 serving as handles.The plate 40 is graduated and marked with suitable char acters adjacenteach slot, whereb the operator ma be able to convenient y set" the typewhee s to the desired position, it being understood that by bringing alever 38 to 5 position adjacent the character desired, the correspondingwheel 35 will be set through the means described to a position wherebysuch character will be presented to the piece to be marked.

Meansare provided for locking the levers 38 and consequently the typewheels controlled thereby against accidental movement and such meanspreferably comprises pawls 41 which rest upon or are secured to springs42, the latter hein secured to the levers 38 and acting to l10l( thepawls 41 in engage- J ment with teeth 43 formed on the inner or 'underface. of 'the plate 40, the teeth 43 being arranged adjacent each slot39-and corresponding in number to the type on the corresponding typewheel 35 and to the markings on the plate 40. It is also referable toprovide means for positively ocking the wheels 35 against movement inthe operative position of the casing 8, and accordingly the link 17 isformed with a prothe pawls 41 such engagement tween the finger 'ing andprior to tion of the portions 12 and 13.

iecting finger 44 which extends transve 'sely of the type wheels 35 andengages between the peripheral type bearing projections thereof in theoperativeposition of the casing 8, as-shown more particularly in Fig. 3,the finger 44 locking the' wheels against movement and also serving asan alining means.

In order that ready access may be hadto the type wheels for the purposesof cleaning the same, the front wall of the casing 8 is provided with amovable section 45 which is hinged to the upper stationary section as at46 and is held in closed position by a suitable latch means 4-7.

In order that the difference in purpose bell and the locking pawls d1may be made clear, it should be stated that simply hold the levers 38against accidental displacement, but do not engage with the teeth 43with sufficient force to hold said levers against i'nanual movement.They do, however, prevent too free a degreeof manual movement and byclicking as they engage between the teeth give an audible indication ofthe movement of the type wheels the distance of a single tooth. Thefinger 44, however, alines the type and positively holds the wheels 35against movement, at the same time preventing manual movement of thelevers 38. Said finger engages with the type wheels at the completion ofthe initial relative movement of the casits subsequent downward movementtoward the platen. remaining in during the subsequent downward movementof the casing and all the while maintaining the type in properalinement. Thus if the levers 38 were accidentally struck as by the armof the operator during the marking operation, such striking wouldordinarily effect movement of the wheels 35 from the positions intowhich they had been set. but owing to the provision of 14, the lovers 38will have no movement if accidentally and violently struck, andconsequently the wheels 35 will not be moved. In this manner thereliable operation of the machine is assured.

In use the operator sets the wheels 35 to make the desired impressionupon the material, and then depresses the lever-.20. Such action movesthe bell crank lever 16 inwardly and effects an initial movement of thecasing 8 with respect to the arms 9, such initial movement beingcontinued until the projecting endsof the shaft 15 engage the arms 9, asshown in Fig. 3, as at a point it the juncthe projecting ends of theshaft 15 serve as positive connectors whereby the movement of the casing8 being continued by means of the lever 20, the arms 9 will be movedwith respect to the shaft 7 as a. pivotal axis'by virtue of theengagement of Thereafter the ends of the shaft 15 with said arms, asabove set forth. When the arms 9 are thus moved, the shaft .7 is turnedtherewith and the member 26 being fast on the shaft 27 is movedoutwardly, thus storing power in the springs 32, as will be readilyapparent. This movement of the arms 9 brings the face of the type wheelsupon the material to be marked, the latter being of course positioned onthe platen 5. When the lever 20 is released the spring 23 resets thecasing 8 to its normal position with respect to the arms 9, through themedium of connections 19, 16 and 17. At the same time the springs, 32bearing against the nuts 31. reset the arms 9 to the normal positionshown in Fig. 2- and the machine is ready for another operation. Thewheels 35 are set when the casing 8 is in its normal inoperativeposition, as shown in Fig. 2, and in such position of said casing thetype wheels do not contact with the inking roller 34. Such contact isonly had dur ing the movement of the casing and by the single row oftype which is used for marking,

'such row touching the roller 34 as the casing 8 in its initial movementpasses over said roller. The initial movement of the casing 8 alsoserves to center the previously inked row of type above the work, andthe downward movement of said casing in continuation of its initialmovementefi'ectually carries out the marking operation.

The improvement has been referred to as a laundry marking machine for.the reason that machines of this type are employed for the most part inlaundry work, but it is of course apparent that the invention covers allthe usages to which the machine may be put. Ialso desire it to beunderstood that while the form of the invention herein shown isadvantageously employed, it serves merely as an example of illustrationof the basic princi les of structure and operation involve and thatother forms of the inveninvention, I

of the first movement and with the support,

and an operative connection whereby the support is automatically movedwith the type carrying means during the s -cond movement of the lattertoward the platen and to effect the marking operation.

2. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, movablesupporting lSt means, type carrying means carried by the supportingmeans and movable with respect thereto, a platen, means associated withthe type carrying means and active upon an imtlal movement of the typecarrying means toengage the supporting means and thereby move the latterwith the former to effect the marking operation, and means for impartingmovement to the type carrying means.

3. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, movablesu porting means, type carrying means carrie by the supporting means andmovable with respect thereto, a platen, means associated with the typecarrying means for effecting an initial movement thereof with relationto the supmeans, type carrying means car'rie portin means to bring a rowof type in-1ine with t e platen the supporting means remainingrelatively stationary during such initial movement and means operableupon the completion of the initial movement of the type carrying meansfor automatically moving the supporting means and the type carryingmeans therewith to eifect the marking 0 ration.

4. iii

a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, movable suporting by the supporting means and movable with respect thereto, aplaten, means for effecting an initial movement of the type carryingmeans to-bringa row of type in line with the platen, means op'erableupon the completion of the initial movement of the type carrying meansfor moving the supporting means and the type carrying means therewith toefi'ect the marking operatiommeans for resettingthe type carrying meanswith respect to the supportingmeans and means for resetting thesupporting means. I

5. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, a ivotedsupporting arm, a t pe casing pivote on the supporting arm an havingmeans to engage the latter 1'7 and effect movement thereof, a platen,and

means for imparting initial independent pivotal movement to the typecasing, the latter through said engaging means'imparting pivotalmovement to the supporting means.

6. In a marking machine of the type set forth, inv combination, a ivotedsupporting arm, a-type casing pivote on the supporting arm and havingmeans to engage the latter and effect movement thereof, a platen, and

' means for imparting movement to the type casing and through thelatter, by virtue of said engaging means, to said supporting means,comprising a pivoted lever, av link connecting the lever and the typecasing and arm, a relatively stationary inking device,

a type wheel and a platen having two relative movements in angularpaths, and a type wheel aliner, the first movement producing anengagement of the type wheel and l l i i l l i l l l i 1 i secondmovement and the latter movement producing the printing o ration.

8. The combination wit a type wheel and a platen having two relativemovements in angular paths of means for causing the rel ative movementsand a type wheel aliner associated with an element of the means, thefirst movement producing an enga cment of the type wheel and the alinerw ich continues throughout the second movement and the latter movementproducing the printing operation.

9. In a marking machine of the type set forth. in combination, a pivotedsupporting arm comprising a substantially horizontal portion and a'substantiall vertical portion, a type casing pivoted on t e supportingarm and having projections to engage the 'vertical portion thereof,means for moving the type casing, the latter by means oi its projectionsmoving the sup orting arm, and a platen with respect to w is movable.

10. In a, marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, a shaftmounted for rocking movement, a supportin arm fast on the shaft, anabutment 'mem er'fast on the shaft,'a lever loose on the shaft, a typecasingcarried by the supporting arm, movable wlth' respect thereto andhaving means to effect movement of said arm, a connection between saidlever and said type casing, means for operating the lever, means forresettin the lever and therewith the type casing a ter each operationthereof, a stationaryv member associated with the abutment memher andspring meansac'tive to hold the abutment member normally against saidstationary member, said'abutmentmember in its movement with said shaftaway from said statlonary member storing power in said spring means, thelatter resetting said shaft and said arm aftercach operative movementthereof.

11. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, apivoted supporting arm, an inking device provided thereon, a type casingpivoted on the arm, a platen, means for effecting an initial relativemovement of the type casing 011' its pivot to trave'rse said inkingdevice and to aline with the platen and means for automaticallyeffecting a subsequent movement of the supporting arm on its pivot-tomove the casing toward theiplaten for the marking operation.

12. In a marking machine of the type set fortln'in combination a movablesupporting arm, a type casing movably mounted on said means forefl'ectinga preliminary movement of the casing relative to the armwhereby the printing surfaces of the type traverse and contact with saidinking device and "-means for automatically effecting .a subseich thetype casing sensor;

forth, in comhiuatimi, it plz able typo whee-l, means for supporting thetype wheel for movement toward and away from the pi ton, means forsetting the type wheel, means for operutively moving the type wheel, andan automatic type Wheel locking device rigidly carried by an element, ofthe type wheel moving means and operative to engan'e '5; type wheel uponactive movemen; oi said elemen during the operation of iairltype wheelmoving means and to disengage type wheel upon the in active movement ofsaid type wheel moving means.

14. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, apivoterl supporting arm, a type wheel casing pivoted on the arm, aplaten, means for imparting continuous operative movement to the typewheel casing, means whereby the siipporting arm is initially restrainedfrom partaking of such movement for a period after the inceptionthereof, and means \vherehy the supporting arnr is automatically andsubse quentiy caused to partake of such movement for a period until thecompletion thereof.

15. in a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, amovable supporting arm, a type carrier supported by and movable withrespect to the arm, aplaten, means for effecting continuous operativemovement of the carrier, means whereby the supporting arm is restrainedfrom partaking of such movement during a period after the inccptionthere f and means whereby the supporting arm is caused to subsequentlypertake such movement for a period until the completion thereof.

16. In u marking machine oi the type set forth, in comhiimtion, a primemover, a

"i-iul movement after th minus: UlMi'ililQl'l shaft carrying a pluralityof type wheels, an inking device, platen, and. means for automaticallytransmitting the movemene of the prime mover to the shall: as an initialsubstantially horizontal nmvement thereof 3 whereby thetype wheelstraverse the inking device anal a subsequent vertical move mentthereoi oarcl the platen 1 forth, in combination, a movablesug'iporting arm, atype carrier supported by and. movable with respect to the arm, aplaten, means tor eit'cctv continuous operative movemen i or the or lugarm tion (1161 ,1

arm is Jnicli mo casing'and the arm machine of the type set inception ofl'loi' relative t lug; the suiiseqxmn with the arm.

i8. in a marking machine of the type set forth.- in comhiuntiou, aplaten. an adjustahlc type when, siu'iportiup; means for the type wheeland nuwahle cause the type wheel to move toward and away from the pint-311, means for setting the type wheel, means for causing operativemovement of the type wheel supporting neans and independentof thelatter, and an automatic typo wheel locking rlovice associated with themeans which causes movement oi? the type wheel supporting means andoperative to en gage saiti type *heel during and throughout its movementtoward the platen anrl to disengage said type wheel at a point of timeduring its movement? away from the platen.

19. In a marking inam' an; wheel locking device associated with themeans which causes movement of the type wheel toward antl'away from theplaten and operative to engage sai-tl type wheel throughout its movementtoward the platen.

20. In amarking machine of the type set forth, in combination, platen,an inking rlevice, a type carrier, means for causing an initial.relative movement of the type carrier and the inking device, means forcausing a subsequent relative movement of ihe type carrier and theplaten, type uliuing means, and means for operating the type :iliniugmeans at the i-ompleliou ol lhe iui i type carrier to move initiallyanclrela-tively 1 j to the mic 'c, means for causing the vpe cumin u,move suhsei ueutly and relatively to the platen, the subsequentmovemerit losing in a path at an angle to the Jial lii-fJ-Vcdllti 4 mealining means, aml 12o type slining means e nit-iai movemont tion and atthe'incepshe suhsecpient more.

mmihine of: the type set, ion, a type arrier, two '11 connected thereto,an inlaa plsien, means for moving one he eiomeu'is to cause an initialrelative 13o traversing movement of the type carrier and the inkingdevice and means for moving the other element to cause a subsequentrelative movement of the type carrier and the platen.

23. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, a typecarrier, an inking device, a platen, a movable element for causing aninitial relative traversing movement of the type carrier and the inkingdevice, a second movable element for causinga subsequent relativemovement of the type carrier and the platen, a prime mover and meansautomatically transmitting the movement of the prime mover first as anoperative movement of the first element and finally as an operativemovement of the second element.

24. In a marking machine of the type set forth, in combination, a typecarrier, an inking device, a platen, a movable element for causing aninltialrelative traversing movement of the t e carrier and the inkingdevice, a secon movable'element for causing a subsequent relativemovement of the type carrier and the platen, means whereby the secondelement is operated by the first element, a prime m'over, and operativeconnections between the prime mover and the first element.

eaaaoo 25. In a marking machine of the typeset forth, in combination, ashaft, a t pe car 1 rier pivoted thereon, an inking evice, a platen,means for causing movement of the type carrier pivotally on the shaft totraverse the inking device and means for causing subsequent movement ofthe shaft and therewith the type carrier, toward the platen.

26. In a marking machine, in combina ti'on, a type wheel, an inkingdevice, a platen, the type wheel and the inking device having a relativetraversing movement and the type wheel and the platen having a secondrelative movement, and a type wheel aliner, the first movement producingan engagement of the type wheel and the aliner which continuesthroughout the second movement 'and the latter producing the printingoperation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presenceof twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. GEBHART.

'Witnesses:

E. M. Arrnusox, E. Ginnmu'r.

